Member-only story

Who Was Louis Braille? The Inspiring Story of the Inventor of Braille

Raymond Parker

·18.6k Followers· Follow

Published in Who Was Louis Braille? (Who Was?)

4 min read · 1 month before

118 View Claps

20 Respond

Save

Listen

Louis Braille, The Inventor Of Braille Who Was Louis Braille? (Who Was?)

Louis Braille was a blind Frenchman who invented braille, a system of raised dots that allows blind people to read and write. Braille's invention has had a profound impact on the lives of blind people, giving them the opportunity to learn, work, and participate fully in society.

Early Life

Louis Braille was born on January 4, 1809, in Coupvray, France. His father was a harness maker, and his mother was a homemaker. Braille was the youngest of five children. When he was three years old, he accidentally poked himself in the eye with a sharp tool while playing in his father's workshop. The injury became infected, and Braille eventually lost sight in both eyes.

Who Was Louis Braille? (Who Was?)

by Margaret Frith

4.8 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	51674 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	114 pages

Despite his blindness, Braille was a bright and curious child. He attended the local school for blind children, where he learned to read and write using a system of raised letters. However, Braille found this system to be slow and cumbersome. He began experimenting with different ways to create a more efficient system of writing for blind people.

The Invention of Braille

In 1824, when Braille was 15 years old, he met Charles Barbier, a retired army captain who had developed a system of night writing for soldiers. Barbier's system used raised dots to represent letters and numbers. Braille was inspired by Barbier's system, but he realized that it could be improved.

Braille began experimenting with different arrangements of dots. He eventually developed a system of six dots that could be arranged in different combinations to represent all the letters of the alphabet, as well as numbers and punctuation marks. Braille's system was much more efficient and easier to learn than Barbier's system.

In 1829, Braille published his system of writing for the blind. The system was initially met with resistance from some educators, who believed that blind people should not be taught to read and write. However, Braille's system eventually gained acceptance, and it is now used by blind people all over the world.

Legacy

Louis Braille died on January 6, 1852, at the age of 43. However, his legacy lives on. Braille's invention has had a profound impact on the lives of blind people, giving them the opportunity to learn, work, and participate fully in society.

Braille is considered one of the most important figures in the history of disability rights. His invention has helped to break down barriers for blind people and has given them the opportunity to live full and productive lives.

Louis Braille was a brilliant inventor who made a significant contribution to the world. His invention of braille has had a profound impact on the lives of blind people, giving them the opportunity to learn, work, and participate fully in society. Braille's legacy is one of hope and inspiration, and his story continues to inspire people all over the world.

Who Was Louis Braille? (Who Was?)

by Margaret Frith

4.8 out of 5